Early Model 1917 value assistance please

[blindhog51]

This is my first attempt at a thread on the forum....hope it comes out OK.
I am a 1911 guy by nature, and especially a U.S. Property gun guy.
I picked up my first 1917 S&W a couple of weeks back, and fell in love with it...
It is a 4 didgit serial number 3943, with the proper grips, and the grooved hammer. I would say that it has about 40 % of the finish remaining. The cylinder has more like 70% blue ???
The bore is very nice. All numbers match. It will only hold .45ACP with moon clips. That is they will almost fall thuough the cylinder without the clips. I had a Smith and Wesson trained armor look it over, and he said that it was in excellent mechanical condition. All G.I.markings are there, and are crisp.No pitting. No scratches. It looks to me as though the bling was removed with WD 40 or some other such wiping.
Anyway, I would like your opinion on if the blueing could be restored, and the value of the revolver in this condition.
You guys have a really well built website !! Thanks in advance for your help. I will attempt to add pictures.

 

[Hondo44]

Welcome to the forum.

What "bling" are you referring to as having been removed with WD-40, the shine of the blue? The original finish was a satin blue military finish, not the high gloss blue of a commercial S&W.

You say all numbers match, does that mean all six number locations match?

ACP cartridges fall almost thru the cyl w/o clips, so there are no shoulders cut in the chambers, they are just bored straight thru?

If you were to restore the bluing you will have forever ruined the originality and collectability value. Normally a 40% original finish is not considered collectible but such a very desirable early 1917 specimen can be an exception.

Thx for the photos, $600 range due to it's early production IMO. Regional differences in the country and local markets will make a difference. I'm sure you'll get some other opinions.

 

[gunnails]

The white lettering was colored in with a crayon or something and should be easy enough to remove.

I love this gun, I embrace it's patina an honest wear. Just a neat shooter.

I have no idea on the value but would hazard a guess at $400ish?

Any pictures of the back of the cylinder?

 

[gunnails]

The moon clip thing may point to the gun be worked over by a smith in the past?? And would ruin it as a collector piece.

But I am sure you would have no problems selling it as a shooter to some one who would love it all the same.

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

Check to see if a .45 Colt cartridge will chamber.

 

[gjamison]

$400? Did we just go back to 1990?

That is a very early 1917, leave it alone! Put a little wax on it and shoot it every now and then. There's a lot of true honest ware and you really don't want to lose that.

Value? I would pay between $700 to $900 if I really wanted it, have paid as much as $1500 for a 95% condition gun.

 

[blindhog51]

thank all of you for your helpfull responses. I will not attempt to restore it. I WILL shoot it when I find some half moon clips.
Thanks again !!

 

[Hondo44]

The moon clip thing may point to the gun be worked over by a smith in the past?? And would ruin it as a collector piece.

But I am sure you would have no problems selling it as a shooter to some one who would love it all the same.

There is documentation that the first several thousand 1917 S&Ws had rounded shoulders, instead of sq cut in the chambers.

This early gun appears to be one of those, I don't believe it has been modified by a gunsmith, it just has the original factory chambers.

This was also true of the Colt 1917 for the 1st 30,000 guns produced.

EDITED TO ADD: MANY OF THESE EARLY CYLINDERS WERE REPLACED BY COLT/S&W.

 

[dlidster]

thank all of you for your helpfull responses. I will not attempt to restore it. I WILL shoot it when I find some half moon clips.
Thanks again !!

Get some full moon clips. They're easier to load and unload with cartridges than half moon clips and they're available everywhere.

 

[Memphis]

Blindhog, welcome to this forum. You will have lots of fun here. Lot's of very knowlegable people that will be glad to help with info.
I just acquired a 1917 almost exactly like yours. Not much finish at all on mine though. My gun is also an early one (serial number 2632). It has the grooved hammer which I love. I always wanted one of these early guns but didn't want to pay a grand for it. I found mine on gunbroker for $450..BUT..it didn't have a lanyard butt swivel and the grips were wrong. So, thanks to Burt (forum member here) I got the swivel and the right early "dished" grips. Still I don't have a lot in it and I have a great shooter. I also would vote in favor of not refinishing or restoring it in any way.
I checked my cylinder and it does have the "shoulders" in the charge holes. I personally think that on these early guns you may see all kinds of unusual things. For some reason my gun doesn't have the "GHS" up by the hammer on the frame. Not sure how that happened. It appears it never had it. I checked with a loupe. Also my serial numbers match in five places (barrel flat, cylinder, back of extractor star, yoke arm and butt). I LOVE the military markings. I really like your gun. Thanks for taking the time to post the photos.

Roger

 

[tops]

I have ser.# 5XXX and it will shoot .45ACP without clips. It also has a grooved hammer. Larry

 

[Hondo44]

Blindhog,

By the way, one advantage of the bored straight thru chambers is that you can also shoot .45 Colt and .45 Schofield factory loads. They're a lot easier to come across than obsolete .45 Auto rim. You can even shoot hand loads if you stay below the 19000 psi of hard ball ammo.

Yes, there is a bit excess clearance between the case rim and recoil shield, but those rounds have never failed to fire reliably in my 1917. And I don't have to fool with the darned clips. You can shoot your 1917 just like any other revolvers.

 

[blindhog51]

...you guys have been great ! The info on the cylinder was especially helpful. I have learned that ( as with small block Chevys ) with military weapons- you can never say "always " or " never" !! Thanks again.